FORTUNATE For"tu*nate, a. Etym: [L. fortunatus, p.p. of fortunare to make fortunate or prosperous, fr. fortuna. See Fortune, n.]
1. Coming by good luck or favorable chance; bringing some good thing not foreseen as certain; presaging happiness; auspicious; as, a fortunate event; a fortunate concurrence of circumstances; a fortunate investment.
2. Receiving same unforeseen or unexpected good, or some good which was not dependent on one's own skill or efforts; favored with good forune; lucky.
Syn. — Auspicious; lucky; prosperous; successful; favored; happy. — Fortunate, Successful, Prosperous. A man is fortunate, when he is favored of fortune, and has unusual blessings fall to his lot; successful when he gains what he aims at; prosperous when he succeeds in those things which men commonly desire. One may be fortunate, in some cases, where he is not successful; he may be successful, but, if he has been mistaken in the value of what he has aimed at, he may for that reason fail to be prosperous.
FORTUNATELY
For"tu*nate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a fortunate manner; luckily; successfully; happily.
FORTUNATENESS
For"tu*nate*ness, n.
Defn: The condition or quality of being fortunate; good luck; success; happiness.
FORTUNE
For"tune, n. Etym: [F. fortune, L. fortuna; akin to fors, fortis,
chance, prob. fr. ferre to bear, bring. See Bear to support, and cf.
Fortuitous.]
1. The arrival of something in a sudden or unexpected manner; chance; accident; luck; hap; also, the personified or deified power regarded as determining human success, apportioning happiness and unhappiness, and distributing arbitrarily or fortuitously the lots of life. 'T is more by fortune, lady, than by merit. Shak. O Fortune, Fortune, all men call thee fickle. Shak.